Page 58 of Don't Game Me
Tori’s tone changed from humor. “You will call me before you go. I want to know your plane landed okay tomorrow.”
“I’ll try.” She hung up before she started truly bawling.
“You okay there, Bec?” her father asked.
She patted his arm and smiled. “I’m good. This is the best night ever. How long has it been since just the two of us got to hang out?”
“Ages.” He relaxed back into his chair. “Good to have you home, Bec.”
Her heart nearly stopped with how much she missed him and this.
Her mom arrived two hours later. “Honey, you sure you’re okay? You look really tired.”
“Probably jet lag.”
With a huge hug, her mom whispered, “Thank you for tonight.”
She whispered back to avoid waking her father, “I wish I could come home. I miss you guys. We might not have him as the remembering him for much longer.”
Her mom crumpled, and she wiped at her eyes. She hugged her again.
“Don’t cry, Mom.”
“I’d be glad to have you here, but I want you to live your dreams, honey. You said last year you couldn’t find your dreams here.”
“Nothing in California is my dream. I’ll try to come home as soon as I can.”
17
She’d barely changed into a T-shirt and jeans at the hotel when someone knocked at her door. Now what?
A peek through the peephole. Oh, no. Did he find out she’d done something? She wouldn’t open the door. He’d go away eventually.
“I can hear you staring at me,” he said.
She pulled open the door.
Jake held up a paper to-go bag. “I brought you dinner and cake.”
“That was thoughtful.” Her heart flipped over itself as she gazed at the bag. A melting sensation started in the dead center of her chest. You will not fall under his spell again, no matter how thoughtful this gesture may be.
“How’d it go at your parents’ place?”
“Big Valleyrerun heaven.”
“Now I feel like a jerk. We celebrated while you were inBig Valleyhell.” His lips trembled against a smile.
She shrugged. “Dad needed to be at home. I think he hurt from the fall more than he let on.”
“Come back to my place. You can watch the speeches. I even have wine. The wine tonight was good, but I’ve got better.”
“We’re not doing a rerun of last night. Me and alcohol leads to bad life choices.”
“I’m not here seeking a rerun. I felt bad you couldn’t be at the reception. Everyone missed you, but Noah was thankful you could be with your dad tonight. I think that meant more to him and Tori than anything.”
“I would like to see the speeches…”
“We can put it on the big screen at my place if you want. We’ll watch after you eat. Then I’ll drive you back here. Really, no ulterior motive.” He held up his hands, bag in one. “Swear.”
